Stars align in Steven Soderbergh’s crime thriller ‘Full Circle’

Steven Soderbergh’s new ensemble crime miniseries, “Full Circle,” should appeal to the appeal to the “Big Little Lies”/”Sharp Objects” crowd.

It’s a taut, star-studded thriller that feels like it comes from the era before HBO grew its broad streaming arm.

Premiering July 13 on Max — and written by Ed Solomon (“Men in Black”) — “Full Circle” follows several sets of characters and plotlines that initially seem unrelated but end up interweaving. 

There’s wealthy couple Derek (Timothy Olyphant) and Sam Browne (Claire Danes) and their teen son Jared (Ethan Stoddard), who has a habit of losing his possessions (including his phone).

He also makes an online acquaintance, another boy his age named Nicky (Lucian Zanes), who his parents don’t know about. 

Sam’s father, Chef Jeff (Dennis Quaid – donning a bewildering ponytail hairstyle) is a celebrity chef. Sam and Derek spend much of their time managing his international empire and brands. 

Elsewhere, there’s Guyanese crime boss Ms. Mahabir (CCH Pounder, who oversees a kidnapping plot for reasons relating to karmic justice. She’s also got a hot-headed nephew, Aked (Jharrel Jerome, “When They See Us”). 

Then there’s Harmony (Zazie Beetz, “Atlanta”), a rogue US Postal Inspection Service agent with a wide range of personal issues. Her boss is Manny Broward (comedian Jim Gaffigan, playing it straight in a dramatic role).

The “Full Circle” story arc sounds chaotic — with too many names and plotlines — and it’s a lot of information thrown at you all at once. (The crux of the story doesn’t crystalize until the end of the first hour-long episode.)

But as the series unfolds, it all comes together before long – full circle, even –  with all of these characters connecting through a botched kidnapping attempt on Jared, spearheaded by Aked, as Jared’s parents and grandfather panic.

Events spiral from there.

“Full Circle” creates a richly varied tapestry, deftly weaving through lives of the rich and famous, street-level hustlers and criminals, and its vibrant New York setting feels authentic (not something shot in Vancouver as a stand-in).

It’s well written and not too self-serious, with a balanced tone that’s not afraid to include levity. The A-list cast delivers performances that you’d expect and each character is intriguing — and not merely a stock “type.”

“Full Circle” is not a perfect thriller, and does get convoluted and meandering at times. It could stand to shave off some of its copious side characters and subplots and, although smooth and fast-paced, can feel a bit disjointed.

But it’s absorbing, with consistent tension and a mature story that trusts its audience. At just six episodes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. 

The new era of “Max” made everyone wonder if we’d no longer get the sort of HBO series that feels distinctive and curated as opposed to the broader, more middle-of-the-road type of fare that you’d find on an average network. 

“Full Circle,” at least, feels like a real old-fashioned HBO crime series.